VICTOR

As I suck the last bit of my slushy into my mouth, I throw the cup away, and almost do a double-take when I look back at my street.

I think the heat is getting to me, it’s either that or I’m missing Dom’s Den way more than I should, because why else would I be seeing his car on my street? The same car I was sitting in only last night?

Stepping closer to it, I let my eyes scan across the number plate and I take a shaky breath in.

LC61 ARK

It’s his car.

Why is it here?

I take a look into the driver’s side, but he’s not sitting there, and there’s nobody else inside.

Could it be that he found out where I live?

No. He’s not the type to do that. If he wanted to meet me again, he would have given me a call.

Maybe it’s just a coincidence that he’s here on my street.

Yeah, it’s a coincidence that the client who’s been seeing me for six days straight has his car parked on my road.

Shaking that feeling off, I begin walking towards my house, and as I step closer to the door, I realise that it’s already opened. I frown a little because I know that Diana’s not home, and Mum’s not one to open the door for anyone, let alone leave it opened.

“Hello?”

I call out as I step inside and shut the door behind me.

No response.

Walking further into the house, I hear voices coming from the kitchen.

Mum’s voice, and…

No. It’s not his voice.

Why would it be his voice in my house?

Swallowing painfully, I rub my palms against the sides of my jeans and walk further towards the kitchen.

“I don’t give a fuck, Serena. She’s married now, and she’s living a happy life. I’ve supported you for the past fifteen years, but I won’t be any longer.”

Gideon…what…

As I peer inside, I spot Gideon standing stiffly against the counter with a pissed-off look on his face. I’ve never seen him look so angry like this.

Mum’s sitting on the table with her hands in her hair as tears stream down her face. I can’t say that I’ve ever seen her look like this either.

As she turns to face him, she begins screaming–screeching even–as she slams her palms down on the table and stands up.

“How could you do that without me there?! I deserved to be there!”

Gideon steps forwards, ignoring her pointed finger in his face, as he forces her to sit back down before he towers over her. I can’t even find it in myself to move because I’m frozen with shock.

How do they know each other? What are they talking about?

Gideon, as calm as ever, speaks to my mother in a tone so cold it sends a shiver down my spine.

“I did that without you there because you weren’t there. You made that decision to walk out, and even though I’ve shown you grace for the past fifteen years, you won’t be seeing any of that anymore. Anything left between us is finished right here, right now, Serena. I mean it.”

My brain is buzzing from everything I’ve just heard.

She walked out…he’s shown her grace…anything left between them is finished…

What the actual fuck?

Stepping into the kitchen, I make my presence known, and once Mum spots me, her eyes widen.

“Victor, baby, what are you doing home so soon?”

Gideon turns ever so slowly as my heart catches in my throat. As his blue eyes lock with mine, I find it incredibly hard to breathe, but I force myself to look away from him and over at my mother.

“What the fuck is going on here?”

I croak out as I point between the two of them.

Neither one of them offers an answer to my question, and as my heart feels like it’s going to leap out of my chest, Gideon asks his own.

“Is this your son?”

Mum drops her eyes to the ground. She answers him without even looking his way.

“Yes, he is my son.”

I turn to look back at Gideon but I can’t read the expression on his face. And since we’re all so busy staring at each other or the floor, we don’t hear the front door opening and closing again.

“Why are you home so early?” I hear my sister ask as she steps into the kitchen with the rest of us.

I don’t know why, but I have a feeling that her being here has made things ten times worse for everyone. So, as I turn to look at Mum, I notice all the color draining out of her face as she stares at Diana with wide eyes. Gideon’s fingers are curled into fists on either side of his body as he glares at Mum.

“Serena,” Gideon growls out as he steps closer to Mum. “What the fuck am I seeing right now?”

Mum curls her bottom lip between her teeth as she stares at Diana.

I have no idea what’s going on, but I know her well enough to know when she’s going to attack, and I know that she’s about to right now.

Just before she can leap forwards and do something stupid, we move.

“Back the fuck up!”

I scream out as I take a hold of Diana, shoving her behind my back just as Gideon grips Mum’s arm as he pulls her backwards away from us. Diana slips her hand into mine and I feel her shake all over.

I look over at Gideon, but with uncertainty slowly filling my veins, I realise something.

His eyes aren’t on mine.

For the first time in seven days, Gideon looks away from me first.